Vending machine cabinet



May 19, 1936. ,W. H. RoWE VENDING MACHINE CABINET Filed March 26, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR-` H. Rows WILLIAM ATTORNEY.

"1* W, W36- w. H. ROWE vENDNG MACHINE CABINET Filed March 26, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I l l I i l INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented May 19, 1936 stares PATENT OFFIQE Application March 26,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in vending machine cabinets.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved cabinet which is especially adapted for coin actuated vending machines,

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an improved Vending machine cabinet wherein novel locking means is provided for locking the various parts.

Other objects and the advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary Vertical cross section through my improved vending machine cabinet;

Fig. 2 `is .a fragmentary section taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear View of the cabihet; and,

Fig. 4 is a view on a reduced `scale similar to Fig. 1 but taken on a different plane.

Referring to` the drawings by reference characters I have indicated a cabinet embodying the features of my invention generally at Il). The cabinet I includes L-shaped side members I2 joined in the rear by a back I3 and in the lower front by a front member I4. The front member I4 ,includes a front plate portion 1I5 and a hori- Zonta] shelf fportion I6. The shelf LIB atthe rear thereof includes a vertical flange I6 having a forwardly open rabbet I6 therein at its upper edge. Above the front shelf I6 of the member `I4 I provide a door Il which includes a transparent panel I8 shownasa :pieceof glass.

The top of the cabinet is provided .with `a lid I9 which is provided adjacent eachside with a depending lug 2Q. vEach lug is pivotedas at 2| to the adjacent side member I2. Apertures 22 are provided in the back ofthe cabinet in which i the lugs ,20 are positioned (see Fig. 3).

back with the square shank portion lthereof positionedin the square recess 25 of the lug and the threaded portion positioned in the reduced aperture26 of thelug with a nut 28 provided on the threaded stem for securing the bolt in position.

At its lower end `the back member I3 includes a `forwardly extending portion 30 which forms a 1934, Serial No. 717,292

(Cl. B12-35) bottom for the cabinet. The forward edge of the bottom 30 is inclined upward as at 3| and adjacent the forward edge of the bottom I provide a bar 32 which engages the upper face of the bottom 30 and extends from one side member I2 to the other and is secured at each end by a bolt 33 to a lug 34 provided on each of the side members.

Adjacent the lower portion of the front member I4 the front plate I5 is outwardly and downwardly inclined as indicated at 35 and in this portion I provide an elongated discharge aperture 36. Extending from the bottom of the aperture 36 inwardly I provide a tray portion 3 8 which is integral with the front plate I5. Each of the side members I2 includes a forwardly extending boss 39 to which the front member I4 is pivotally secured b-y a rivet 40 (see Figs. 1 and 2) On the front plate I5 of the front member I4 and on the shelf portion I3 and the flange portion it thereof I provide Iside flanges 4I which overlie the adjacent outer faces of the side members I2.

The door II is hinged to one of the side members I2 as indicated at 42 Vin Fig. 2 and at each side includes side anges 43 which overlie the adjacent outer faces of the side members I2 and at the top of the door I provide a similar flange 44 which overlies the adjacent outer face of the lid I9. rabbet IB in the portion I6 and adjacent the lower edge of the door I provide an inwardly projecting fiange 45 which overlies the upper edge of the portion I6'.

The lid I9 includes downwardly projecting side flanges v45 which overlie the adjacent portions of the side members I2 and at the rear includes a downwardly projecting ange 41 which overlies the adjacent portion of the back I3.

On one of the side members I2 I provide a suitable key actuated lock as indicated at 48 which is adapted to operate an arm 49. Pivotally connected adjacent opposite ends of the arm 49 I provide rods 50 and 5I. The rod 50 extends upward and passes through an apertured boss .l

52 provided on the adjacent side plate I2 and the rod 5I extends downward and passes through a similar apertured boss 52'.

Integral with the door I'i adjacent the bosses 52 and 52 I provide inwardly extending lugs 53 The lower edge of the door I'I fits in the b pers 69.

ing the door I1 from being opened. When the lock arm is turned to a horizontal position the rods move out of the apertures 54 in the lugs 53 whereupon the door I1 may be swung about the axis of its hinges to an open position.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that when the door I1 is in a closed position the lower edge thereof fitting into the groove I6 prevents the front member I4 from being swung about its pivots 48 to an open position and the door flange 44 overlying the lid I9 prevents the lid from being swung about its pivots 2I to an open position.

Positioned in the lower portion of the cabinet I8 I provide a discharge chute 55 which includes a top member 56, a bottom member 51 spaced therefrom and side members 58 connecting the top and bottom members. The bottom 51 of the chute 55 includes a rearwardly and downwardly inclined portion 59 which is secured to a bar 89 by bolts 6I. The bar 68 is secured to lugs 62 on the side plates I2 by bolts 63.

The forward portion of the chute bottom 51 is depressed as at 58 to receive the inner edge of the tray 38 and is then inclined rearwardly and downwardly as at to fit over the inclined portion 3l of the cabinet bottom 30. The forward portion of the chute top 56 includes an upstanding flange 66 which engages the inner face of the front plate I5. Y

Adjacent the chute top 56 the front plate I5 includes an inwardly extending triangular flange 61 which projects into the chute 55 below the top 56 thereof.

For holding articles to be vended such as packages of cigare-ttes 68 I provide a plurality of hop- As shown each Vof the hoppers 69 is preferably made of thin sheet metal and includes a rear wall 18 and front walls in the form of spaced flanges 1I. At the bottom andY adjacent each side of the hopper spaced flanges 12 are provided which are adapted to support articles in the hopper. The supporting flanges 12 terminate forwardly of the rear wall 10 and in the rear wall adjacent the lower end thereof I provide a discharge aperture 13.

Secured to the rear wall 10 of the hopper as by welding I provide adjacent the top thereof a supporting hook 14 which is adapted to engage an angle bar 15 which is secured by bolts 16 to lugs 11 on the side members I2. Adjacent the lower end of the hopper I provide a similar hook 18 which engages a bar 19 which is secured by bolts to lugs 8I on the side members I2.

When articles which are Asmaller than the package-s of cigarettes 68, such as boxes of matches 82, are to be vended in the same cabinet as the cigarettes a smaller hopper 83 may be provided at one side as shown in Fig. 2. This small hopper 83 is similar in all respects to the hoppers 69 and similarly primed reference numerals indicate the like parts thereof. To retain the front of the hopper 83 in the same plane as the front of the hopper 69 extension brackets 84 are secured to the bars 15 and 19 which as shown at 18' engage.

For expelling the contents of the hoppers 69 and 83 I provide a delivery plunger mechanism indicated generally at 85. This delivery plunger mechanism may be of any suitable typevbut I have shown it as similar to that shown and described by me in my co-pending application Serial No. 7 03,703 led December 23, 1933.

As shown the plunger mechanism 85 includes a frame 86 mounted in the cabinet below the shelf I6 of the front member I4. Slidably mounted in the frame 86 a plurality of delivery plungers 81 are provided, one associated with each of the merchandise hoppers. Each plunger 81 includes a head portion 88 which is positioned in an aperture 89 provided in the front plate I5 of the member I4. Furthermore, each plunger includes adjacent the rear thereof a raised platform 98 which extends upwardly in its associated hopper above the supporting flanges 12 of the hopper `so that when the plunger is in a retracted or normal position the lowermost package of merchandise in the hopper rests on the platform 90.

The plungers 81 are normally locked against movement and are adapted to be released for actuation by a suitable coin release mechanism which may be of any desired type but I prefer to use the coin release mechanism shown and described by me in my co-pending application Serial No. '102,488 filed December l5, 1933.

When a plunger 81 has been released by the insertion into the device of the proper coins the operator pulls the plunger forwardly as far as it will go and then moves the plunger rearwardly to its normal position. When the plunger is moved forwardly the platform 90 thereof moves out from under the merchandise in its associated hopper whereupon the lowermost package therein comes to rest on the hopper flanges 12.

When the plunger is moved rearwardly to its normal position the rear end of the shelf 99 engages the lowermost package 68 and moves it rearwardly out through the aperture 13 and off the supporting flanges 12.

Adjacent the rear of the hoppers I provide a rod 9I which is pivotally supported on brackets 92 secured to the bar member 19. Mounted on the rod 9| I provide a downwardly extending' skirt 93 which extends across the apertures 13 in the hoppers. One end of the rod 9I extends upwardly as at 94 and has one end of'a coiled spring 95 secured thereto, the opposite end of the spring being anchored to the bar member 19. To restrict movement of the rod portion 94 I provide a stop pin 96 on the bracket 92;

When a package of merchandise 68 is discharged from a hopper by a delivery plunger the package engages the skirt 93 and swings it rearwardly against the action of the spring 95. The skirt 93 acts to prevent surreptitious operation by persons inserting wires in the cabinet through the discharge opening 36 and working out the contents of the hoppers.

Below and at the rear of the hoppers I provide a shaft 91 which is supported in bearing bosses 98 (see Fig. 4) on the side plates I2. Mounted on the shaft 91 I provide an apron 99 which in its normal position is inclined forwardly and downwardly into the delivery chute 55 and rests on the bottom portion 51 thereof.

Below the plungers 81 adjacent the front of the cabinet I provide a rod |00 which is supported on the frame 86. Pivotally mounted on the rod |80 I provide a U-shaped member IUI which depends therefrom. Adjacent each of the plungers 81 I provide an arm' |92 which is pivotally mounted intermediate its length on the rod IUIJ. The upper ends of each of the arms |02 are positioned in recesses ID3 provided in the plungers 81. The rear face of the lower portion of the arm IIJ2 engages the forward portion of the U-shaped member IUI so that when the lower end of the arm I02 moves rearwardly the U- shaped member IIJI will be swung rearwardly. 75

One end of a rod |04 is pivotally connected to the U-shaped member |0I as at |05 and the opposite end is pivotally connected as at |00 to an arm I0'I mounted on the shaft 91.

When one of the plungers 81 is moved forwardly the rear end of the recess |03 therein engages the upper end of the associated arm |02 and swings it forwardly thereby swinging the lower end rearwardly which in turn swings the U-shaped member IOI rearwardly which through the medium of the rod |04 and the arm |01 rocks the shaft 91 and moves the apron 99 upward to a substantially horizontal position as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. l.

The apron 99 is retained in this position until the plunger returns to its initial position thus as the package is discharged from its hopper before the plunger completely returns to its initial position the discharged package will fall onto the apron 99. When the plunger 8l has completely returned to its initial position the lower end of the associated arm I 02 is free to swing forwardly whereupon the weight of the package on the apron 99 swings the apron downwardly into engagement with the bottom 51 of the chute whereupon the package slides off the apron 99 into the chute 55 which directs it towards the discharge aperture 35.

Positioned in the cabinet adjacent one side thereof I provide a housing |08 having an open front in which a coin drawer |09 is positioned. The vdrawer |09 is shown as retained in the housing |08 by a spring clip member IIO.

Communicating with the interior of the housing |08 and extending upwardly therefrom I provide a coin chute |I2 into which coins are directed from a coin chute I3 after the coins have operated the coin release mechanism which releases the plungers 81,

Coins to be returned to the operator are directed by a coin chute I I4 into a coin tray |I5 which is integral with the front member I4 and extends inwardly from the front plate. Access to the coin tray II5 from the exterior of the cabinet is through an aperture I|6 provided in the front plate I5 of the front member I4.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provided an eicient and serviceable vending machine cabinet which is simple in construction and includes many novel features.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

A vending machine including a cabinet having sides, a bottom, a top, and a back, said cabinet having a frame therein, said frame including a front part extending transversely of said cabinet, said front part having a plurality of spaced apertures therein, a plurality of plungers supported on said frame, each plunger including an operating portion passing through one of said apertures and projecting beyond said frame, said cabinet including an open front portion, a` front member pivotally mounted on said cabinet and movable to a position to close said open front portion, said front member including a shelf porv tion disposed above said frame and a front plate portion below said shelf portion and disposed in advance of said front part of said frame, said front plate portion below said shelf portion having a plurality of apertures therein, said apertures being aligned with said plungers, said front plate portion having side iianges at each side thereof, each of said side anges being connected to said shelf to reinforce the shelf, said front member having an elongated aperture therein and said cabinet having a discharge chute disposed in the rear of said elongated aperture.

WILLIAM H. ROWE. 

